Gary F. Jones

Biography

A second-generation horseman, Gary Jones won 1,465 races from 1975 through 1996 and had purse earnings of $52,672,611. He won 102 graded stakes and 233 overall stakes with 104 stakes-winning horses.

A fixture on the Southern California circuit, Jones won a total of 15 training titles at Del Mar, Hollywood Park, and Santa Anita. Jones was introduced to the game by his father, renowned trainer Farrell “Wild Horse” Jones, who set the record at Del Mar with 11 meet training titles. Gary Jones broke his father’s record by winning 47 races at Santa Anita in 1976, three more than the single-meet standard set by the elder Jones.

Jones won 30 Grade 1 races, including the signature handicap in California, the Santa Anita Handicap, with Best Pal and Stuka. At the time of his election to the Hall of Fame, Jones ranked sixth all-time in wins (576) and seventh in stakes victories (72) at Santa Anita and 13th in wins (463) and 10th in stakes victories (58) at Hollywood Park.

With Hall of Fame member Best Pal, Jones won eight stakes, including four Grade 1 events. Jones also trained such notable horses as 1986 Champion Older Male Turkoman, world record-holders Kostroma and Time to Explode, and standouts Quiet American, Lakeway, By Land by Sea, and Wishing Well.

Jones retired from training at the age of 51. The final two horses Jones entered were both winners, as Auriette and Ski Dancer each won graded stakes at Santa Anita in April 1996.

Achievements

Won 233 stakes races, including 102 graded events

Won 15 training titles in Southern California